Balochistan WASH joint Sector Review 

About Project
Over the past five years, the Government of Balochistan, with support from UNICEF, has made significant strides in creating an enabling environment for sustainable and scalable WASH services. A key initiative in this effort is the Joint Sector Review (JSR), which brings together all relevant stakeholders onto one platform to share progress, challenges, and set the way forward for WASH initiatives in the province.

The Joint Sector Review process has led to several important outcomes:

• Institutional Arrangements: The JSR has clarified stakeholder roles and responsibilities, reinforcing decentralized authority at the district and local levels.
• Sector Coordination and Planning: Through the JSR, a time-bound roadmap has been developed, backed by human resources under a guiding sectoral plan with clear targets, indicators, and budgeted activities.
• Sector Policy and Strategy: The provincial water and sanitation policy and strategy have been updated and amended in line with the SDGs, establishing service norms for households and institutions supported by a legal framework.
• Equity and Inclusion: The JSR has facilitated equity assessments that generate evidence, guiding decision-making and the targeting of interventions to ensure no one is left behind.
• Monitoring and Reporting: Balochistan has established an effective Management Information System for monitoring and reporting. The JSR process further strengthens monitoring and coordination across the sector.
• Sector Budgeting and Financing: The JSR has guided sector investments, with the Government of Balochistan increasing its funding for WASH services, particularly in efforts to eliminate open defecation.
• Capacity Development: The JSR has supported capacity-building efforts, with the Housing, Urban Development, and Public Health Engineering Department (HUD&PHED) collaborating with UNICEF to conduct a WASH Capacity Assessment and develop a Strategic Roadmap for Human Resource Development.

Through UNICEF’s support, the Joint Sector Review has become a vital platform for engaging the Government of Balochistan and all relevant stakeholders. This collaborative approach ensures that WASH services are effectively coordinated, strategically planned, and sustainably implemented, driving progress toward achieving the WASH SDGs in Balochistan